Title Image: Close Call- Victory Day celebrations with a match of At Ordysh
May 9th known as Victory Day marks the Soviet Union’s triumph over European fascist forces in 1945 during “The Great Patriotic War” known in the west as World War Two. This important holiday celebrated throughout the former Soviet Republics and Israel commemorates the sacrifices made by those who served during this bloody conflict, which cost the lives of over 25 million people within the Soviet Union.
Yet even after independence, Victory Day is still observed in all of the former Republics but in a country like Kyrgyzstan it has taken on a distinctly Central Asian flavor with entire communities coming together, paying homage to veterans during a day full of eating, drinking, and traditional games.
